By BANNERNEWS Reporter, Calabar
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) Board has pledged to support efforts to strengthen the aviation sector in Cross River State.
FAAN Chairman, Alhaji Abdullahi Ganduje, made the pledge during a state banquet held in his honour in Calabar on Tuesday.
Ganduje, a former governor of Kano State, was in Cross River for a tour of aviation facilities in the state.
He said FAAN would work with the state government to advance the sector, noting the state’s growing aviation infrastructure, including three aircraft and a cargo airport reportedly nearing 80 per cent completion.
Ganduje also commended the state’s infrastructure development, particularly road construction, but stressed the need for projects to take local environmental conditions into account to ensure their sustainability.
The FAAN chairman said his experience in public service had exposed him to different approaches to governance, adding that cooperation among government, political parties, institutions and citizens was essential to strengthening democracy and delivering public services.
He also commended the administration of Governor Bassey Otu for what he described as an open approach to governance.
“I have always had a high regard for the Governor. The duty of government is not to divide the people, but to serve them, and this the administration of Governor Bassey Otu is doing,” Ganduje said.
Responding, Governor Otu commended Ganduje for his years of experience in public administration, politics and party management.
Otu said the state’s expanding development activities and preparations to host major international engagements would require improvements in security, airport facilities, transportation and other critical infrastructure.
He disclosed that Cross River was preparing to host an African conference expected to attract more than 900 participants, including heads of state and senior officials.
“Security is very, very important,” the governor said, stressing the need to protect residents and visitors during the expected influx.
Otu expressed appreciation to Ganduje and the FAAN delegation for the visit, saying the engagement provided an opportunity to discuss aviation, infrastructure, investment and other areas of cooperation.
